New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-08-13
HARRITY WHITEWASHED.
A CONFESSED CIVIL SERVICE FARCE.


THE COMMISSIONS REPORT ON THE PHILADELPHIA
Posr OFFICE INVESTIGATION.
WASHINGTON. Aug 1.-THE Civil Service Commission
has rendered opinion in the matter OF the charges OF
the Civil Service Reform Association. OF Philadelphia,
AGAINST thu Board of Civil Examiners OF the Phil
adephia post Office and against William f. Harrity.
postmaster at Philadelphia. The charges allege that
there WAS In the conduct OF the examination held
in February and March last OF candidates for appoint
ment to I'LL vacancies In that post oce and that the e1
animation papers shown to certain applicants De-
fore che examination. IL was further charged nat fos
master Harrty violated the Civil Service rules 10 max
ing appointments I'LL vacancies In his office On Aarch
@ last Messr, Oberly and Lyman, of the Commission,
began the OF these charges In Philadelphia
first taking up the charge against the Board or EXAM
iners Tho Commissioners after reviewing all the evil
dene submitted in support OF this charge say:
The comp that this examination was unfair mat per
somebody, that persons were enaoiea oy
pass the examination Is therefore declared ny INC
10 be- without any foundation In fact
In regard to the charges against Postmaster HarriJ
tho Commission states that they have been unable TO
find any evidence that the Board OF Examiners has over
unfairly marked the examination papers OF any hePuo
can or Democratic applicants, or that the BOARD kno"
ANYTHING Of the politics OF the applicants for the e1s
nation OF February March, 1886 The Commission main
tains that IT, IS claimed overwhelming majority Oh
the applicants who passed Democrats, the fact
must be attributed to other cause than the Unfair
mes. Of the examiners; and the statement may DO &C
cepted as true th't nearly all OF the apPcan onnh
examination Democrats and that very lew fsePuo
cans applied. Tbs result, tle Commission say was
produced by o. na~n press Tor party
PURPOSES Keeps Democrats out Or yil Service ex
q nination wien the Republican party is In power ana
cratic parry vs Is br poT amendnent Of tho
law or rules. The Commission comments the system anu
method OF appointment in vogue in the Ne"-iofK f0''
As to the allegation that appointments have been ais,
trbued evenly among the different election districts o
the city tho Conm sion declares mat the e'luece ~
ted utterly fails good the charge Inc other
allegations made by the association are tascu up Anu
ahmed in detail, with preci ely the same result, oon-
menng on the Charge that Mr.. Harrty had made num-
Gus dsmissa without complaint against inc pelson'
dismissed the report says;
even II the charge were true Harrty
hal Large number OF employee Tor p.tlet rs
TO under the Civil Service Heretofore tue .ommlsson
mn ssryras act 10 remove any person classified
Civil service for purely partisan rea19s %' @ res
offence In ee y IN no way non', T mall "ot bs
removal except that 1t declares th~ta removal Shall ~ "
oBecnusea person in the refused to contrib
ue TO a political fund IT political purpose ., nv
-ecAu~e person has refused TO render service 70 any
person refused permit the M.
removals three above stated are for
causes NAY he made The officer making me renoyats nAy
the removed demand restoration I" 'H0
II IS true that the President might make rule recurring
executive ClvH service 10 sto
but there Is no law regH
ing and it 10 required 10y no rule IL, ,h.
mi rrauirng rsa dismissal. TO be filed WIN inc
order OF -missI would IN the opinion OF tne
the absence OF provision Oh "a"
Pres requiring thus the po"er OF renoFs 4,
re.roloi aud the appointing officer NAV without ss
the danger o. any peu>ly rcmoyr an ~ hs aton lie
and refuse the employe any reason LOT nus
may eyen empioyo Tor no cause pthout & ap
ay act on al taken against him un1er tue '' oe'
and rule. 60 = --,..,on % ra,oovar. a.
win be seen that COMMISSION hal no shthoty "
Influenced POtimlsier liaTtly 20 -
OF employees of the Ph atephla losvhcs
compelled to take Ms NOuhteerSh uen
that Inc dismissed employees against whom lie ma 70
plant make; that he dismissed any empoSe o' p'i
reasons only. ,
The report Is signed by Commissioners oberIy ana
LYMAN Commissioners Edger,on adds the following be-
fore signing: 49,.
TO this report agree with the exception o, ue
concerning reasons Tor ds MS Al
nlr rec for dismissal 10 DE hvh WIN te ~
Of dismissal would the opinion OF tho COhms'4o" W
wise rule" Such s not my opinion